NYT Copy-Edit This: Free Editing Resource

Hello everyone! In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed by and it is now the June holidays. How are you all spending it?

In today’s blog post, I’d like to introduce a free editing resource for you to try your hand at. The New York Times has been periodically publishing an interactive set of ten-questions challenging readers to identify grammar errors that have appeared in their recent articles. It’s called “Copy-Edit This.”

A fairly straightforward exercise- all you need to do is click on the word which you think is the error.

If you do not get a box that pops up telling you that your answer is right, as well as the explanation of the error, then your first guess is incorrect and the word which you’ve guessed will appear lighter on your screen.

You can then proceed to make your second guess!

Since I did not receive any notification that my second guess was right, I shall proceed to continue guessing.

On your third try, if you still cannot guess the error, you will be asked if you’d like to ‘Give up?’ If you do press that, you will be directed to the answer. However, if you wish to persevere just to find the answer on your own, then you can continue guessing!

Frankly speaking, the errors are quite tough to spot so I would definitely say that this is an exercise pitched at a higher level (> Primary 6 students). Even for adults, this quiz will definitely give you a run for your money. Try it out and let me know how you’ve fared! And try not to tear your hair out while attempting it!

About the Author: Ms Delia Siow is a dedicated teacher who is committed to providing an environment where a child can grow and thrive. She enjoys developing strategies to help students learn in a fun and meaningful way. Through her lessons, she hopes to help students lay a sound foundation in grammar and gain independence in their work. She strongly believes that good grammar is essential in students to gain proficiency in the language and finds joy in watching the bricks of their strong grammar foundation take form.